Stephen C. Neff, War and the Law of Nations: A General History

This ambitious volume traces war as a legal concept from Roman times through to the twentieth century. Neff demonstrates how war has been seen variously as a law-enforcement operation, as a duel between states and as a 'crime against the peace'. He also considers the post World War II definition of war as an international law-enforcement mechanism under UN aupices. Although unsuccessful, this attempt did help transform war into a humanitarian, rather than a policy, problem.